Páll Ragnar Releases New Album :: Nostalgia

Páll Ragnar Releases New Album :: Nostalgia

NOSTALGIA is the first release of Páll Ragnar’s compositions with works from 2009–2015. The string instruments are in a leading role on the album which includes Nostalgia for violin and orchestra performed by Una Sveinbjarnardóttir and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daníel Bjarnason.

The piece was selected composition of the year at the Icelandic Music Awards 2013. Supremacy of Peace for string orchestra was recorded live with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Risto Joost. The recording was selected by the Estonian Broadcasting Service to the International Rostrum of composers in Prague 2013.

Since then the piece has become Páll Ragnar’s most performed composition. Náttúruljóð on the lyrics of Sjón is performed by Tui Hirv – soprano, Una Sveinbjarnardóttir – violin, Pálína Árnadóttir – violin, Guðrún Hrund Harðardóttir – víóla and Hrafnkell Orri Egilsson – cello. Spiegeltunnel for string orchestra was commissioned by Guðný Guðmundsdóttir for Cycle – Music and Arts festival in Kópavogur to be premiered by SKARK Ensemble as a part of the same-titled mirror installation by Ólafur Elíasson at the festival’s opening ceremony.

Páll Ragnar Pálsson was born in 1977 in Reykjavík, Iceland. For most of his youth he played the guitar in a rock band called Maus. When Maus quit in 2004, he found his musical identity through electronic music studies that led into classical composition. Páll obtained an undergraduate degree in composition at Iceland Academy of Arts in 2007. He continued his studies at master’s level at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under the guidance of Helena Tulve and graduated with a PhD in composition in 2014.

The release is a collaboration between Smekkleysa (Bad Taste) and Konveier, owned by Páll Ragnar and Tui Hirv.

Nostalgia is currently available on all major streaming platforms.

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